Malnutrition Risk Assessment among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is mainly categorized into Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Malnutrition is common among patients with IBD and is linked to an increased risk of unfavorable clinical outcomes. Early identification of patients at risk of malnutrition enables timely referral for thorough dietary evaluation and management to prevent related complications. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the risk of malnutrition and its associated factors among individuals with IBD. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Adera Medical and Surgical Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2024. A total of 252 patients with IBD were selected using a consecutive recruitment technique. Data were collected through interviews and medical record reviews using structured questionnaires. Malnutrition risk was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. Bivariate logistic regression was employed, followed by multivariable logistic regression analysis, to examine the association between the outcome and predictor variables by selecting variables with P ≤ 0.25. Finally, P < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: Two hundred and forty-two individuals participated, yielding a response rate of 96.03%. The majority of IBD cases were CD patients (190; 78.51%). The prevalence of malnutrition risk among patients with IBD was 34.30% (95% confidence interval: 28.56–40.53), with no difference between CD and UC (34.2% vs. 34.6%; P = 0.957). Older age was associated with a lower risk of malnutrition (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.96, P = 0.035), whereas elevated C-reactive protein levels (AOR = 1.96, P = 0.030) and, most notably, active disease (AOR = 3.03, P = 0.030) were associated with an increased risk of malnutrition. Conclusion: One in three patients with IBD were at risk for malnutrition. Age, elevated inflammatory markers, and disease activity are found to be significant predictors for risk of malnutrition. Targeted interventions to address nutritional, clinical, and socioeconomic determinants of IBD outcomes should be implemented.